Verstappen confident he can finally tick off missing F1 achievement

It may seem surprising for a driver who has won 72 Formula 1 races, but the Red Bull driver has never stood on the top step of the podium at Marina Bay. Verstappen has come close on several occasions, finishing second three times in 2018, 2024 and 2025, as well as taking third place in 2019, but victory at the Singapore street circuit has always eluded the Dutchman.

Speaking ahead of the Marina Bay weekend, Verstappen reflected on the significance of his victory in Malaysia, describing it as an incredible feeling and a proud moment for the team, particularly as it marked its first win as a power unit manufacturer. The Dutchman believes the result had been a long time coming and represented a special achievement for everyone involved.

Verstappen explained that the team is continuing to improve the car race by race and hopes to carry its strong form into Singapore, the final round of the triple-header. However, the four-time world champion believes the Malaysia victory was quite track-specific, meaning he remains cautious about how competitive the car will be at Marina Bay. He nevertheless enjoys the demanding street circuit, with its high number of corners and bumpy surface.

The heat will also be a factor throughout the weekend, although Verstappen pointed out that racing at night should make conditions slightly easier. Singapore remains one of the few circuits where he has never won in Formula 1, leaving the Dutchman feeling that he still has unfinished business at Marina Bay.

Despite claiming his first victory of the season last weekend, Verstappen remains convinced that Formula 1 needs significant changes. The four-time world champion believes a return to V8 engines would solve several of the problems surrounding the current generation of cars, improving drivability, reducing weight and making them considerably more enjoyable to race.

Verstappen would not completely abandon electrical power, however. His preferred solution would include a much smaller battery providing a temporary push-to-pass boost, which could also eliminate the need for DRS. Crucially, he believes the additional power should only be enough to create an overtaking opportunity rather than effectively completing the pass, leaving drivers to make the difference under braking.

While a V10 would also feature in Verstappen's ideal version of Formula 1, he considers a V8 the more realistic option in the modern era. His comments come after his victory at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, where the start was delayed by a software issue. Verstappen was critical of the situation afterwards and made clear that he hopes Formula 1 can learn from what happened.